Are you in the Holiday 37%

With the holidays come high fat, high calorie foods. Weight gain between Thanksgiving and New Year’s on average is between one to ten pounds. According to survey, published in 2011, Consumer Reports asked what Americans dreaded the most about the holidays; at 37%, weight gain tied for second, along with going into debt.

The holiday spread does not need to happen, if you are careful about what you chose to eat. Instead of loading your plate with heaping portions of everything, try a small spoonful of your favorites. Drink water instead of wine or other spirits. Save the wine for the toast at dinner or midnight. Prefer soda; try a diet version or less sugar/calorie version like Pepsi One.

 Studies have shown if you drink a glass of water before your meal, you will consume less food. Did you know it takes 20 minutes for your brain to realize it is full? No wonder we all over eat! If you drink a glass of water before you hit the buffet line, this will give your brain time to realize you are not as hungry as you think. Slow down, chew slowly, and engage in the conversation around you, thus giving your brain and stomach time to chat with each other.  

Most importantly, listen to your body; you do not have to be a part of the clean plate club. It is ok to leave food on your plate, that is why everyone asks for doggie bags when they go out to a restaurant.

 Yes, you can have dessert, with small portions and smart choices. I know for me personally, I just want a taste of something sweet. Just a fork or spoonful, cures my sweets tooth.

The recipe I am giving you today, nobody will ever know it is low fat unless you tell. My friend Cheryl has had this recipe for over twenty years. I cannot stand peanut butter, but I love this. You can of course make it full fat, but you do not need too. So what does this taste like? Peanut butter mousse.

Peanut Butter Fluff

Ingredients:

Graham crackers (if you can find the low fat ones even better) enough to line a 9” X 13” pan (about six full crackers)

16 ounces Sugar Free Cool-Whip

2 cup low or nonfat milk

¾ cup peanut butter

1 6 ounce box sugar free Vanilla Jell-O brand pudding

Directions:

Line a 9” X 13” pan with graham crackers.

In a large bowl, mix milk and peanut butter until smooth.

Add pudding to the mix; beat for one minute.

Fold in ¾ of Cool Whip.

Spread mixture evenly on graham crackers.

Spread remaining Cool Whip on top and refrigerate one hour.

Death by Chocolate Brownies with Kahlua Whipped Cream

Like many families, mine is spread across the country. Several times over the years, there have been emails and phone calls asking if someone had a copy of a recipe. As a result, I decided that I needed to place all of them in a cookbook. After sending a request out to my family asking for their favorite recipes, I did get a few back without having to beg.

 The question I next faced was who should get a copy of the cookbook? Should only the ones who sent me a recipe get the book or should everyone benefit from the few who sent me recipes? I do not want hurt my sisters’ feelings if she was not able to send a recipe. I also had to consider friends who had given me recipes over the years. Do I leave them out because they are not family by law or blood but by absorption? My extended family is just as large as my family, since my husband served our country proudly for twenty years.

The debating back and forth, gave me an excuse for not starting the book. Recently my Aunt Jackie and Uncle Bill came for a weekend visit and I had forgotten to get a cake recipe my aunt, so I posted a note on her Facebook page asking for the recipe. One of my dearest friends, Cheryl, asked for the recipe without even knowing about what was in the cake!  A week later after a trying week of working on the family tree, my adopted Uncle Doug, stated I needed a hobby. I need another hobby as much as I need another hole in my head! However, I let the ideas start to fester and grow, and then decided why I should just limit myself to family or friends. So like many others, I have decided to take the plunge into the world of blogging. I thought I would start with my Death by Chocolate Brownies with Kahula Whipped Cream.

Death by Chocolate Brownies with Kahlua Whipped Cream

Brownie Ingredients:

1 box if Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate brownie mix

1 box of Ghirardelli Double Chocolate brownie mix

1 large box (6 oz) of Jello Brand Chocolate pudding

2 large eggs

1 cup of whole unsalted butter, melted

½ cup heavy whipping cream

¼ cup of Hershey’s chocolate syrup.

Preheat oven to 325°F. Prepare a glass 9” X 13” baking dish by spraying  with non-stick cooking spray like Pam or grease with butter.

In mix bowl, stir brownie mixes and pudding together. Add eggs, melted butter, chocolate syrup and whipping cream until thoroughly blended.  Mixture will be thick like chocolate frosting.

Spread evenly in to pan and bake for 40-45 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely before serving.

I serve brownies topped with Kahlua whipped cream, chocolate syrup and dusted with Hershey’s Coco powder.

Whipped Cream Recipe

Ingredients:

½ cup whipping cream

3 Tablespoons Kahlua Liqueur

2 Tablespoons white sugar.

Place all ingredients in a cold or chilled bowl; I prefer a metal mixing bowl for this. Beat with a hand mixer on high for one minute or until the mixture is stiff and fluffy.

Serve immediately, can be stored for one week in refrigerator.